Doctor Who: What does the new Doctor mean for companion Clara?

By season eight Clara will have known four different incarnations of the Doctor (Picture: BBC)

In a relatively short time as the Doctor’s companion, Clara (Jenna Coleman) has certainly had plenty to do.

With the mystery of her many deaths resolved, she has gone on to be companion to three Doctors – Matt Smith and also David Tennant and John Hurt in the anniversary episode.

With Matt Smith gone though, and a far older Doctor (Peter Capaldi) taking his place, what will this mean for Clara?

1. Romance

There were romantic implications there early on between Clara and Matt Smith’s Doctor and, though they weren’t nearly as strong as previous relationships (I’m looking at you Rose Tyler), something was still there. They even managed to get a kiss in!

With the larger age gap between Coleman and Capaldi however, this element is likely to be removed. Will another love interest be introduced for Clara to keep the Doctor/companion dynamic on its toes or will the Doctor and Clara just become pals?

2. Emotion

Clara does quiet, almost stoic, emotion very well and there’ll surely be plenty of emotion if we’re already questioning whether or not the Doctor is good.

She has been with him through so much, seen Trenzalore (and even picked out the Tardis for the first Doctor) but even she still isn’t sure what kind of man he is. Whatever happens, there are sure to be tears along the way. This is Doctor Who after all!

3. Adventure

Like all of the Doctor’s companions, there’s something adventurous about Clara. She wanted to see ‘something awesome’ right from the start and that isn’t likely to change, no matter what kind of Doctor she’s sharing the TARDIS with.

4. Bravery

Clara’s bravery doesn’t just mean she’s ready for adventure. It also means that she doesn’t let the Doctor just get away with things simply because he is who he is. She asks the uncomfortable questions and makes him think about things he’s spent centuries trying to forget.

If this new Doctor is asking her to tell him who he is, she’s probably going to tell him to figure it out for himself no matter what face he has – just like she would if anyone else asked her a similar question. No easy, placating answers here.

5. Care

Clara sticks around to help out her friend and the children. She was a great source of comfort to the young Queen of Years in The Rings of Akhaten too. Who will there be for her to look out for in the new series…? And will they be human or alien?

6. New face?

With a new Doctor, does that also mean a new Clara is needed? She already saved Matt Smith so there’s always the possibility that one of her other manifestations will appear in this series.

Whichever accent or style Clara is sporting, the latest companion has proven that she is both feisty and in touch with her emotional side, but without knowing what sort of Doctor Peter Capaldi will be, we can’t yet know what sort of journey this new series will take her on and what it will mean for this new Doctor/companion relationship.

Only time will tell.

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